Subsoiling

The theory of subsoiling always has been captivating. Most
soils are too shallow, inviting injury from drouth. Enthusiasm
regarding subsoiling comes to large numbers of farmers at some time in
their experience, and a great number of subsoil plows have been bought.
The check to enthusiasm is the fact that few men ever have seen such a
plow worn out. Some reasons are as follow:

(a) The subsoil at time of spring-plowing rarely is dry enough
for good results, and there is danger of puddling; (b) the
subsoil often is too dry and hard in late summer, when rains permit
easy breaking of the top soil for fall grain; (c) the work
doubles the labor and time of plowing, and (d) the subsoil soon
settles together because it contains little organic matter.
Subsoiling is generally approved and little practiced. Land at
plow-depth becomes packed by the tramping of horses upon it and the
pressure of the plow, when the plowing is done at the same depth
year after year, and in some soils subsoiling has been found
distinctly valuable.